Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know it's been done to death but........ How much alcohol do you REALLY drink? And how much to you say you do in RL?

209 replies

Bumpandkind · 20/06/2014 20:03

Just asking as I sit with my 2 nd glass of wine and plans for more. Since DS was around 9 m, I've found old drinking habits increasing.

OP posts:
Wadingthroughsoup · 20/06/2014 22:58

I use to drink heavily and didn't really have an 'off-switch'. It began to cause problems, so I decided to address it about 3 years ago. Initially, I abstained totally for a few months and then began to drink again, but in moderation. That seems to have worked for me.

Now, I tend to go several weeks or a month without, especially in winter, and then might have a month where I drink on either a Friday or Saturday, usually 2 or 3 ciders or beers. I don't drink at home, only if out at social event. I never get drunk anymore. I log my intake on mydrinkaware because I don't ever want to go back to heavy or binge drinking. The stats on liver disease and cancer scare me. Also, I prefer to spend 'spare' calorie allowance on cake rather than booze :)

Wadingthroughsoup · 20/06/2014 22:59

And if I get asked (it's only ever a GP that asks this question, IME), I give them an accurate answer.

Haroldplaystheharmonica · 20/06/2014 23:01

An apt thread tonight. I went for a smear this afternoon and the nurse asked me various questions including how much did I drink. I immediately said a couple of bottles of wine a week which is the truth and what I thought was about average (it is in my circle of friends) The nurse said this was really too much and I should cut out half a bottle of wine or so. I was really surprised as two bottles of wine a week really isn't very much to us Blush

OwlCapone · 20/06/2014 23:02

I drink about 2 glasses of wine a month, depending how often the children are with their father.

SmilingHappyBeaver · 20/06/2014 23:47

DH and I share a bottle of wine probably 5 nights out of 7. But I never drink on my own when he is away on business, unless I'm seeing friends socially and not driving.

It must just be a bad habit we've got into, because when he is at home we drink wine with dinner, but when he is away I don't think about it or miss it at all.

I have no idea what that equates to in units... the only "units" I count are empty bottles when I sort the recycling!

wheresthelight · 20/06/2014 23:48

None at all! Have been the total for about the last 5-6 years due to health issues and medication that is affected by alcohol...would love a glass of wine though!

pigluscious · 20/06/2014 23:53

Wow. Your answers are all ALOT lower than I was expecting. Before i got pregnant I used to drink about half a bottle-a bottle of wine a night in the week and then a bottle of wine and some beers as 'pre-lash' (urg) before moving onto whiskey whilst out. I know that's lots but is it super crazy lots? Everyone around me was doing similar!

pigluscious · 20/06/2014 23:55

(Btw the whiskey was just at the weekends. And it's worth noting I was very unhappy at the time!)

ouryve · 21/06/2014 00:02

2 bottles of wine is about 20 units.

I drink 1-3 bottles equivalent per week, depending on the week. When I see threads about people drinking that in a night, I do wonder how, but that could be an age thing.

mum11970 · 21/06/2014 00:07

I've had 5 pints of lager tonight. Probably won't drink again until next friday. Used to drink fri and sat but trying to lose weight so cut back a lot as I can easily drink 8-10 pints. And yes I do lie when asked how many units I drink.

Ragwort · 21/06/2014 00:14

Two or three large glasses of wine most evenings, I rarely go out drinking, prefer my home comforts! If asked by my doctor I would probably halve the amount.

BackforGood · 21/06/2014 00:15

I don't know Pigluscious - I've just read through the 2nd 1/2 of this thread, and been quite surprised just how much some people are drinking.
Even before children I'd not drink as much as every night (let alone a bottle a night), but since having dc I would just be wiped out by 1/2 the amounts some people are drinking. Being a parenting website, I'm surprised how much people drink when they've got dc. Not saying that in a judge-y way, just in a 'wondering where I'm going wrong in being so knackered for the last 18 years, I've not had the capacity to drink alcohol except on the odd occasion' sort of a way.

pigluscious · 21/06/2014 00:19

backforgood I can't comment on how people drink when they have DC's, mine is 5 months old and I had my first alcoholic drink since pregnancy/parenthood last week and it basically knocked me out!

CompanionCube · 21/06/2014 00:43

I drink once every few months but when I do, I drink a lot. I know it is bad to binge drink though.

I really dislike the taste of most alcohol. The only thing I drink is vodka and orange because you can't taste the vodka.

maddening · 21/06/2014 00:48

Most months nothing - had some over Christmas -probably about 50 units total over the month in about 5 events. Had about 4 drinks since Christmas - each one about 2 units. I might have a few drinks on holiday in July.

BreadForBrains · 21/06/2014 00:50

I drink quite a lot compared to most on this thread.
Probably 4 large vodkas on a Friday and Saturday night. So 8 large vodkas a week, is that 16 units? Don't tend to drink Sunday to Thursday, but we had friends round for the football and we ordered a curry and had some beers. I had 4 bottles of coronas. 3 vodkas tonight and will probably be a similar amount tomorrow.
I don't drink wine, so stick to spirits or beer.

On a night out (I have them once a week/fortnight) I will drink about 3/4 pints or I'll drive and drink soft drinks. I make a concerted effort to drive for about half my nights out so I'm not always drinking.

Some nights out end up with about 8 pints, various cocktails and some champagne consumed. I can and do go weeks without it, I make a conscious decision about twice a year to have a dry month.

I love a good drink but I'm equally happy to abstain.

lettertoherms · 21/06/2014 00:53

I never know how to answer when I'm asked.

I'll go months without a drink. Or I might have a glass of wine with dinner several times in one week. I might have three mimosas at a bridal shower, or a couple beers at a party.

I guess I should say I'm a social/occasional drinker?

BeeBlanket · 21/06/2014 00:57

Wow I thought I didn't drink much! I have toned it down since my youth and since having DC, and even before I didn't think I was a heavy drinker compared with friends. But I do know a lot of muso and creative types, and many of them drink loads.

I have a small glass of white wine most evenings, a couple of times a week I'll have a small top up so an extra half glass. One or two nights a week off ideally, but I don't always manage that. And occasionally a half of lager at lunchtime if we go out for lunch at the weekend. On a big night out (e.g. a party, wedding or posh meal, which is hardly ever) I'd probably have 3 glasses.

I make this about 10-12 units and that is what I'd tell the GP. But I'm aware they'd probably assume I'm way underestimating and double it.

MrsMook · 21/06/2014 03:50

At the Drs, I tick the 0-4 units per week box. My current tipple is a pre mixed can of gin and tonic which I'm most likely to have one a week, but frequently miss weeks. I rarely go out and have the chance for alcohol. Recently, I went to the pub with a friend, and came back from thebar with my default lime and soda. I had to go back up for a cider, because I'd forgotten that I could!

I like the taste. A gentle smiley feeling is nice. I don't go beyond that because of the practicalities of two small children, disturbed nights, and an easily upset digestive system. I have plenty of other ways to relax.

EllaMenopy · 21/06/2014 03:56

I would say I drink moderately. I go months without any alcohol, then I might have a bottle of wine over a week- usually half a glass after dinner. I'd consume perhaps 6 bottles of wine and maybe 6 bottles of some boutique beer over the course of a year.

Pre-kids, I used to drink fairly heavily- sometimes 3 or 4 drinks a few times a week, and on runs of night shifts I used to drink in the morning to help me sleep.

I work in health in a small community, and many people here drink heavily but believe it is a normal, moderate amount. They are often surprised to be told that a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer every night is unhealthy.

Happybeard · 21/06/2014 04:02

Glad this thread turned half way through was starting to get a bit concerned! I drink at least a bottle of white wine on a Friday, then often another on Saturday. Usually a large glass of red on Sunday or DH and I will share a bottle. I have a large glass of white midweek and if I see a friend on another week night we'll usually have a bottle each. I'm fairly low level in comparison to many of my friends. I know three or four who drink a bottle of wine a night.
The only thing that worries me is the calories. If there were no calories in wine of drink a bottle a day at least.

musicalendorphins2 · 21/06/2014 05:00

I rarely drink alcohol (since my 30's, am in my late 50's now) For many years I only had bubbly at Xmas, or Valentines Day type of thing, but now I may have a gin and lemonade when on vacation, or an Irish Coffee in in winter.

OwlCapone · 21/06/2014 05:27

I don't understand why people would lie to their doctor if asked. Surely this means you know you drink too much.

Happybeard · 21/06/2014 05:36

Because you know you drink too much and so don't need the predictable lecture from a GP. Or worse, a leaflet Hmm

MarrogfromMars · 21/06/2014 06:53

I drink a bottle of beer 4-5 nights a week, so depending on size of bottle / strength of beer that's 1.5-3 units each. Used to drink a lot more pre-DC but even if I'm (rarely) out for an evening I won't drink a lot now - lost the tolerance and don't miss the hangovers!